During the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Savita Pawnday, Executive Director of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, shed light on the urgency of addressing atrocity crimes as part of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) initiative. Recognising the 20th anniversary of R2P, she urged the international community to renew its commitment to principled diplomacy amidst a landscape challenging established human rights norms.
Pawnday highlighted the enhanced understanding of atrocity crimes in various contexts, including Afghanistan and Venezuela, noting the evolution of genocide frameworks that now account for cultural erasure in addition to physical violence. This sophisticated grasp is pivotal in creating effective prevention strategies that adapt to contemporary methods of committing atrocities.
The speaker also pointed out the diverse array of tools available for crisis response, such as accountability mechanisms and peacekeeping forces. However, she lamented the inconsistent application of these responses driven by political interests, contrasting the swift support for Ukraine with the inadequate action towards the genocidal actions in Gaza and the systemic injustice against the Rohingya, Uyghurs, and other groups.
Pawnday urged that selective enforcement of international law undermines the credibility of the multilateral systems meant to protect populations, creating dangerous discrepancies in safety across nations. Additionally, she noted the need to connect the early warning mechanisms in Geneva to actionable decisions in New York, including within the UN Security Council, to ensure a comprehensive approach to crisis responses.
In her address, she provided due credit to civil society, human rights defenders, and affected communities, who often bear witness to early signs of atrocities and work tirelessly for resolution amid adversity. However, these frontline champions frequently face exclusion from pivotal decision-making discussions within the UN framework, highlighting a need for greater inclusion and support in the process.
Pawnday emphasised that revitalising collective responsibility hinges on bridging institutional gaps and embedding community perspectives into the core of decision-making. While recent steps have been taken by the HRC, continuous political engagement is necessary to transform findings from investigative bodies into concrete action, exemplified by the urgent need for responses to crises like those in Darfur and Ethiopia.
In closing, she reaffirmed that R2P transcends mere principles; it represents a commitment to the world’s most vulnerable. The future integrity of the international protective system relies on action and the courage to confront atrocity crimes head-on, not simply for convenience’s sake.
Savita Pawnday at the Human Rights Council stressed the need for renewed action and commitment to the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) on its 20th anniversary. She highlighted a sophisticated understanding of atrocity crimes, the consistent application of international law, and the critical role of civil society in early warning and response. Pawnday called for bridging institutional gaps to transform findings from crisis investigations into meaningful action.
Savita Pawnday’s remarks at the Human Rights Council underscores the urgent need for a concerted global effort to protect populations from atrocity crimes. There is an essential call to bridge institutional divides, include valuable community perspectives, and ensure that preliminary actions are translated into sustained political commitment. R2P must be honoured through decisive actions to uphold the principles it stands for, ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable populations worldwide.
Original Source: www.globalr2p.org
